Quick-release storage of a life ring and lifebuoy markers

Abstract

A quick-release device for storing a ring buoy and lifebuoy markers. The ring buoy rests against the end wall of a frame and is normally held there by a swingable pivoted ramp with its center of gravity well beyond the pivot. When stowed, the ramp snugly holds the ring buoy. The ramp also carries open-top, closed-bottom holders for lifebuoy markers. The markers may include a light signal and a smoke signal, both having actuators connected to a painter line, which is likewise stowed. A simple upward pull on a latch releases the ramp to seek its natural center of gravity, swinging out around its pivot providing a ramp pathway projecting the ring buoy out and away from a vertical drop and causing it to describe a trajectory that frees it from the ship. At the same time, the device both ejects and actuates the lifebuoy markers.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a quick-release device for a ring buoy having spacing and support means for securing the device to a bulkhead, a stationary frame supported by said spacing and support means and providing a vertical end wall and pivot means spaced from said end wall, said ring buoy resting against said end wall, a swingable ramp pivoted to said pivot means with its center of gravity well beyond said pivot means on the opposite side thereof from said end wall, said ramp having a short bottom wall portion, and an end portion, which during stowage is substantially vertical and when vertical snugly holds said ring buoy, and a connecting portion joining said bottom wall portion to said end portion, with the ring buoy resting on the bottom portion and connecting portion of said ramp and against its said end portion, and latch and release means supported by an upper portion of said frame for engaging said ramp's end portion near an upper edge thereof when said end portion is vertical, and having release means for releasing said latch upon a simple upward pull, releasing said upper edge, the combination therewith of: auxiliary, open-top, closed-bottom holding means secured to and movable with said ramp for loosely holding, to one side of said ring buoy and in a vertical position during stowage, lifebuoy marker means,   said holding means also including a stowage compartment for a painter line secured to said ring buoy and to said marker means,   whereby said ramp seeks its natural center of gravity and swings out around said pivot means and provides a ramp pathway projecting the ring buoy out and away from a vertical drop and causing it to describe a trajectory that frees it from the ship, and said holding means is simultaneously inverted to dump said lifebuoy marker means and said painter line and thereby to actuate said lifebuoy marker means.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said marker means include pull-actuated actuating means, and two pull cable means having one end attached to said actuating means and another end fastened to said device. 
     
     
       3. In a quick-release device for a ring buoy having spacing and support means for securing the device to a bulkhead, a stationary frame supported by said spacing and support means and providing a vertical end wall and pivot means spaced from said end wall, said ring buoy resting against said end wall, a swingable ramp pivoted to said pivot means with its center of gravity well beyond said pivot means on the opposite side thereof from said end wall, said ramp having a short bottom wall portion, and an end portion, which during stowage is substantially vertical and when vertical snugly holds said ring buoy, and a connecting portion joining said bottom wall portion to said end portion, with the ring buoy resting on the bottom portion and connecting portion of said ramp and against its said end portion, and latch and release means supported by an upper portion of said frame for engaging said ramp's end portion near an upper edge thereof when said end portion is vertical, and having release means for releasing said latch upon a simple upward pull, releasing said upper edge, the combination therewith of: auxiliary, open-top holding means secured to and movable with said ramp for holding, to one side of said ring buoy and in a vertical position during stowage, lifebuoy marker means,   said holding means also including a stowage compartment for a painter line secured to said ring buoy and to said marker means,   said marker means comprising smoke liberation means having a pull-actuated igniter means with a pull cable secured thereto, and electric watertight, light means having pull-actuated actuating means with a pull cable secured thereto,   said painter line being secured to said ring buoy and to said pull cables,   whereby when said ramp seeks its natural center of gravity and swings out around pivot means, it provides a ramp pathway projecting the ring buoy out and away from a vertical drop and causing it to describe a trajectory that frees it from the ship, and said holding means is simultaneously inverted to dump said lifebuoy marker means and said painter lines and thereby to actuate both said lifebuoy marker means.   
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3 wherein said auxiliary, open-top holding means comprise a pair of open-top tubes side-by-side.